Combination multiple switch unit and ornament



y 30, 1950 B. E. COOK 2,509,809

-COMBINATION MULTIPLE SWITCH UNIT AND ORNAMENT Filed June 11, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

y 0, 1950 I B. E. COOK 2,509,809

COMBINATION MULTIPLE SWITCH UNIT AND ORNAMENT Filed June 11, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 IN VEN TOR.

fiewfwz/ 5 (baa Patented May 30, 1950 COMBINATION MULTIPLE SWITCH UNIT AND ORNAMENT Berton E. Cook, Chicago, 111., assignor to Milton M. Blumenthal, Chicago, 111.

Application June 11, 1947, Serial No. 753,965

13 Claims.

This invention relates generally to electrical switch units and particularly to portable switch units for domestic, industrial and decorative illuminating purposes. More particularly, the invention is directed to a novel portable switch unit built into an unique and ornamental receptacle containing a plurality of plug outlets for electrical appliances and the like and especially for lighting sets, particularly of the class adapted for attachment to Christmas trees and the like, for decorative illuminating purposes.

The decorative illumination of Christmas trees has in recent years become so complex that the ordinary householder often does not have the knowledge or ability to assemble and connect the necessary equipment required therefor. Thus, he must hire an electrician or utilize a simpler but less decorative illuminating system. However, oftentimes he attempts to muddle throug himself; the result being a dangerous electrical system which may and often does cause conflagration and accidents. On the other hand, despite the fact that an expert electrician may be retained to assemble the system, temporary connections, switches and the like must be used so that a cumbersome, unsightly and even dangerous illumination system cannot be avoided.

In recent years, several electrical fittings and attachments have been introduced for the purpose of simplifying the systems. However, none of these have proven very successful either in simplifying the systems or in minimizing the danger. Furthermore, they are obsolete in so far as modern electrical systems are concerned.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a device of the character described, which will overcome all of the disadvantages set forth above.

It is a further object of this invention to eliminate the numerous unsightly and dangerous attachments and the like heretofore utilized in the electrical systems to which this patent pertains, and to substitute therefor a combination unit which will erve as an ornament rather than a disfigurement. An object pursuant thereto is to provide a unit receptacle of a suitable shape, material and design that it may be used as a tree ornament.

A further related object is to provide said ornament with illuminating means.

A further object of this invention is to afford a combination switch unit having means for readily positioning and securing said unit to an object such as a Christmas tree branch.

Another object of this invention is to provide a 2 single unit to which the leads of all the tree lamp sets may be electrically connected.

Yet another object is to afford a combination switch unit having a single lead wire and male plug so that the entire system may be electrically connected to a single house current outlet.

Yet a further object is to provide a single unit which may independently control the electrical system. An object relating thereto is to provide switching means in the unit by which the system may be controlled. It will be apparent that such independent control means eliminates the necessity for relying on control thereof by a house switch or floor or Wall outlet connection.

Still another object is to eliminate the danger of conflagration caused by short circuit breaks and the like An object pursuant thereto is to provide a fuse in the switch circuit.

A related object is to aiford a fused switch unit which will eliminate the blowing of house fuses by short circuits in the tree illuminating system.

A further object is to provide a combination switch unit having a diversity of control means such as means for intermittent or flashing tree illumination.

A related object is to provide means for selectively controlling such intermittent and continuous lighting.

Yet another object is to provide a portable unitary table receptacle into which a plurality of electrical appliances and the like may be plugged and centrally controlled.

Another object is to provide a table receptacle having means for supporting the receptacle in a position permitting ready access to the plug outlets.

Still a further object is to provide a combination switch unit having illuminating means therein which may be dimmed to adapt said unit for use as a bed lamp and the like.

Another object is to afford a combination electrical switch unit and ornament of sturdy safe construction, yet simple and inexpensive.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout several figures of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the invention with the cover of the receptacle removed to show the inner parts.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a switch unit embodying my invention showing the same in operational position on the branch of a Christmas tree.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the back of the unit as supported in plug-accessible-position.

Figures is a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical circuits "and'parts of the switch unit comprising this invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the referencecharacter It denotes a switch unit embodying my invention comprising a receptacle designated generally'by the reference numeral 1 l and having a-hook l2 affixed at the top thereof.

The receptacle-ll may b formed of'a separable housing comprising a'cupshaped back member is and a front cover member M. Cover It may be affixed to back member 13 by means of screws such as 15 threaded through the cover and into retaining lugs as it, which protrude inwardly from the walls ofsaidcup member l3. Air holes 24 may be provided in cover it for cooling the receptacle cavity.

Although the above described receptacle structure is revealed in the drawings, I do not wish to be limited thereto since any conventional separable housing may be utilized without departing from th spirit and scope of my invention. Thus, a separable receptacle housing, both parts of which are cup shaped with one slightly smaller than the otherto permit telescoping of one within the other, and having a conventionalself-locking snap fastener formed therein, ma be utilized in this invention. Furthermore, although the drawings show the receptacle in the ornamental shape of a bell, it should be evident that any appropriate ornamental shape may be used. Thus a star, cross, figure and thelike shaped receptacle may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Within the housing i3 is positioned and formed or secured therein the various electrical parts and wires which comprise the electrical circuits of the switch. Thus, a lead cable l1 having a male plug l8 at one end may have its other end l9 inserted into the receptacle I I One of the wires of this cable is bound at its other end to a binding post 2i of a fuse 22 which is connected in series in th circuit. This fuse 2'2 is mounted in a retainer 23 which may be formed in or secured to the back of cup member l3.

The fused lead is completed by a wire 2t which is electrically connected at one end to an opposite fuse terminal post 25 and at the other end to a bus bar terminal 26. Terminal 26 is aflixed to a bus bar 21 which together with its parallel bus bar '28 form a parallel electrical connection between the multiple protected plug outlets .as 25, formed in or secured to the back wall of the of tree light sets such as 32.

housing 13. The plug outlets 29 and their bus bar connectors 2! and 28 may, if so desired, be constructed as a conventional single unit 30 which may then be assembled in the unit. However, the outlets may be formed directly in the receptacle housing I 3 if desired, for convenience of construction.

The plug outlets 29 are adapted .to receive therein the male plugs of the leads of any electrical appliances and the like or the leads as 3| The wires as 33 and 34 are plugged directly into the unit and the lamps as 35 are connected either across the wires as 33 and 34 in parallel, as shown in Fig. 4, or in series as desired.

An electric lamp 36 is connected in parallel in said circuitby means of wires 31 and 38 the free ends of which are brought into electrical contact with bus bars 21 and 2 8 as at binding posts 39 and 4B. This lamp serves to illuminate the receptacle soa's to afford an illuminated ornament. Lamp 36 may 'be positioned and secured within the receptac'leby any-conventional method. However, I prefer to use amounting such as M which may be formed in or secured to the back'wall'of housing member i 3.

The constant light circuit is completed by a lead 42 which is connected iat o'ne end to the bus bar28 by means of a binding post 33 and at the other :end toa conventional switch M which controls the opening andclosing of the constantlig ht circuit.

Althoughconstant illumination' is the usual and ordinary lighting mostoften used, oftentimes it is desired to vary thisas'by-creating an'intermittent lighting effect. Novel means for affording such an effect are incorporated in this invention. Thus, a thermal flasher 45, the details o'f 'construction of which will be later describedis connected into an alternate circuit by means "of a wire G3 which ma be bound to 'thebinding post ell at its other end. This circuit :is completed by a wire '4'? which connects the flasher "45 to a flasher'switchdt which is shownin Fig.1 as being similar tothe constant light switch '4'4.

To complete the circuit a wire to having :one end 50 connected to or comprising one of' the wires of line cable l-l, is connected at its other end 5 to the flasher switch 4-8. Wire 52 is spliced at one end with wire 50 :as at 53 and at the other end is connected to the constant light switch it. Thus, the circuit may be completed selectively by closing either "constant "light switch M or flasher switch 88 "depending upon'th'etype of illumination-desired.

The thermal flasher :unit it-which is used create intermittent illumination is comprised of a bi-metal bar 55 fixed at one send "as :atiss and having :a terminal contact :5? at th pther end. Wire "41? is coiled around the bar .55 as at .58 so that it may generate heat tocaus'e the bar to'curl upward at its 'free' end until contact is made with a contact terminal 59. the end of an-adjusting screw Eiilwhich-is threaded through an opening near the end of a terminal bar 6|. Terminal bar 61 is in turn electrically joined to line '46 in th circuit. The bi-metal "bar 55 is also connected to line ll by wire 62 and the free end of coil '58 is-connected to terminal 63 of line 46.

In operation, upon the closing of switch 48 the current passes through the coil 58 until 'Sllfillcient heat has been generated thereby to cause the bi-metal bar to curl upward until the circuit between terminals 51 and 59 is completed.

Terminal 59 is aflixed to- Since the bar resistance is less than that of the coil the current then flows through this circuit; but only momentarily, because the bi-metal bar upon cooling, in the absence of heat from the coil, soon breaks the contact between terminal 51 and 59. Upon the breaking of this circuit the current again flows through the coil 58 and the cycle is repeated.

In the event that the unit is to be used as a table receptacle, then the outlets 29 must be made accessible so that appliance terminal plugs may be inserted therein. This may be accomplished by providing an arm 65 hinged at one end as at 66 so that the arm may be swung outwardly to position the receptacle on its side. Again any convenient supporting structure may be used in combination with my invention without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that while preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A device adopted to afford a plurality of protected electrical outlets comprising a housing, bus means connected with said outlets, means for connecting said bus means to a power line, said last mentioned means including a permanently connected fused lead, and a pair of parallel leads each capable of being independently connected in said circuit, one of said leads having an automatic flashing device electrically connected therein.

2. A device adopted to aiford a plurality of protected electrical outlets comprising an ornamental plastic housing, means for illuminating said housing, a hook formed at the top of said housing for suspending the same from a standard or the like, bus means connected with said outlets and said illuminating means, said housing having means for connecting the same with a power line, said last mentioned means including a permanently connected fused lead and a pair of parallel leads, an automatic flashing device connected in one of said leads, and means for selectively connecting said leads in said circuit.

3. A device adopted to afford a plurality of protected electrical outlets comprising an ornamental plastic housing, means for illuminating said housing, a hook formed at the top of said housing for suspending the same from a standard or the like, bus means connected with said outlets and said illuminating means, said housing having means for connecting the same with a power line, said last mentioned means including a permanently connected fused lead and a pair of parallel leads, an automatic flashing device connected in one of said leads, and means for selectively connecting said leads in said circuit, said last mentioned means comprising a pair of switches connected to said leads and adopted to independently connect each of said leads in said circuit.

4. In combination a tree ornament having means positioned internally thereof for illuminating said ornament, a plurality of electrical outlets, power connecting means for said ornament, and means for connecting said outlets to said power connection for constant and intermittent power flow, said intermittent power-flowcontrolling-means comprising an automatic circuit-making-and-breaking device.

5. In combination a tree ornament having means positioned internally thereof for illuminating said ornament, a. plurality of electrical outlets, power connecting means for said ornament, means for connecting said outlets to said power connection for constant and intermittent power flow, and a fuse interposed between said outlets and said power connecting means, said inter-mittent power-flow-controlling-means comprising an automatic circuit-making-and-breaking device.

6. In combination a tree ornament having means positioned internally thereof for illuminating said ornament, a plurality of electrical outlets, power connecting means for said ornament, means for connecting said outlets to said power connection for constant and intermittent power flow, a fuse interposed between said outlets and said power connecting means, and switching means for selectively controlling said constant and intermittent power flow, said intermittent power-fioW-contr0lling-means comprising an automatic circuit-making-and-breaking device.

7. In a multiple switch unit affording a plurality of electrical outlets, a circuit for connecting and controlling said outlets to a power source, said circuit comprising a fused lead, means for connecting said lead to said electrical outlets, an auxiliary circuit connected to said main circuit and comprising a pair of parallel leads, each capable of being independently connected in said circuit and one of said leads having an automatic flashing device connected therein.

8. In a multiple switch unit affording a plurality of electrical outlets, a circuit for connecting and controlling said outlets to a power source, said circuit comprising a fused lead, means for connecting said lead to said electrical outlets, an auxiliary circuit connected to said main circuit and comprising a pair of parallel leads, a pair of switching means for completing the circuits through said leads, and circuit interrupting means in one of said leads, one of said switching means controlling said circuit interrupting means.

9. In a device of the character described, a plurality of protected electrical outlets, means for connecting said outlets to a power line, a plurality of means for controlling the electrical connection between said power line and said outlets, at least one of said controlling means comprising an automatic circuit-making-and-breaking device.

10. In a multiple switch unit affording a plurality of electrical outlets, a circuit for connecting and controlling said outlets to a power source, an auxiliary circuit connected to said main circuit and comprising a pair of parallel leads, each capable of being independently connected in said circuit, and one of said leads having an automatic flashing device connected therein.

11. In a multiple switch unit affording a plurality of electrical outlets, a circuit for connecting and controlling said outlets to a power source, an auxiliary circuit connected to said main circuit and comprising a, pair of parallel leads, circuit interrupting means in one of said leads, and.

gamete switching meanswfor completing the. circuits" andsaid outletsincluding an automatic circuit-- making-a-nd-breakingdevice.

BEHTON E. COOK.

REFERENCES GI'DED The following references are of record in the, file. of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,102,756 Johnson July-7, 1914: 1,104,440 Moessner July "21; 1924- 1,732,488 Shoenberg Oct; 22; 1929 1,935,771 Feurstein Nov; 21, 1933 2,124,083 Ry'pinski July 19, 1938 

